March 26, 2007—Marriott International recently joined forces with global environmental organization Clean Up the World to expand the company’s green efforts at the community level. Marriott says the initiative complements the company’s green volunteerism, recycling, energy and water conservation, and the addition of a new senior-level Green Council.
The company says it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 70,000 tons in one year, and is the first hotel company to proactively join the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders Program. Marriott was also recognized as the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Excellence in Energy Management for the past two years and was reportedly awarded more ENERGY STAR labels (160) than any other hotel company.
Additional environmentally friendly company initiatives include:
- Group “Re-Lamp” campaign, which replaced 450,000 light bulbs with fluorescent lighting in 2006 and reportedly saved 65 percent on overall lighting costs and energy usage in guest rooms;
- Linen Reuse Program, a global effort to encourage guests to reuse linens and towels during their hotel stay which reportedly saved 11 to 17 percent on hot water and sewer bills involved in laundering operations at each hotel;
- Marriott’s smoke-free policy in all US hotels announced in 2006, aims to improve indoor air quality and result in a 30 percent reduction in energy use for air treatment systems;
- Marriott’s “Ozone Activated Laundry” and “Formula One Systems” can save up to 25 percent in energy used in laundry systems;
- Replacement of 4,500 outdoor signs with LED and fiber optic technology, which reportedly yielded a 40 percent reduction in outdoor advertising energy use in its first year;
- Installation of 400,000 new shower heads which should reduce hot water usage by 10 percent each year;
- New waste-management pilot program to streamline efforts and identify the most environmentally friendly, yet cost-efficient methods for Marriott’s 2,800 hotels around the world to continue to adhere to the company’s recycling guidelines for trash, cardboard, newspaper and glass; and
- Marriott’s Environmentally Conscious Hospitality Operations (ECHO) program, launched in 1994, that focuses on water and energy conservation, clean air, “reduce-reuse-recycle” waste management, wildlife preservation, and neighborhood cleanups.
For more information about Marriott’s green initiatives at its 2,800 hotels in 68 countries, visit the company’s Environmental Stewardship online.
